Spring weather, pandemic prompt second wave of cycling fever around Metro Vancouver
Posted April 9, 2021 7:24 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As the weather begins to warm up and B.C. COVID-19 restrictions clamp down on everyday activities, more people are once again hopping on their bicycles and hitting the roads around Metro Vancouver.
Cycling soared in popularity last spring, as people, desperate to get out of their homes during the pandemic, looked for COVID-safe alternative activities.
“I think this has been one of the silver linings of the pandemic here, that more people are either considering or have already started using either cycling or walking as their main mode of transportation,” Navdeep Chhina with HUB Cycling said.
A year later, demand has once again boomed to the point where some Metro Vancouver bike repair shops are only accepting appointments from people who bought their bicycles at that specific shop.
In March the province announced a pilot project which will allow electric kick scooters to legally cruise the streets and bike paths of six British Columbia municipalities, including Kelowna, Vernon, Vancouver, West Vancouver and North Vancouver city and district.
“We always tell people be respectful of other people that you’re sharing the space with. Be respectful of people walking, be respectful of the young kids who are sharing the road with you, and be respectful of other people who might be new to the mode of cycling when you’re sharing the bike lanes with them, and just share the space with others.”
Chhina says anyone using the roads should give right of way to the more vulnerable person.
“It you’re driving in a car, you need to watch out for people walking people cycling or people are other modes of transportation like a wheelchair. The impact of a car hitting those people will have much worse consequences than cycle-on-cycle or two people walking colliding with each other. And likewise, if you’re on a bicycle, you need to respect people waiting to cross the street, or other people on bicycles, and of course you have to be respectful of the traffic laws as well.”
Cyclists are also encouraged to get to know their routes before they head out to avoid surprises including construction, road sign changes, and weather.